What have you been reading, hearing or TV viewing that has provoked some feelings of comfort or concern about what is happening in the world of medicine, medical care, treatment or science? Ethics is all about doing the right thing. Are you aware of any issues in medicine or biologic science which are being done right, could be improved or in fact represent totally unethical behavior?
Write about them here.. and I will too! ..Maurice (DoktorMo@aol.com)

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Which is Best for the Patient?: A Patient Patient vs An Impatient Patient

If the title of this thread started with "Which is best for the Doctor", my general opinion would be easily answered with "a patient with patience." Doctors know that diagnoses are not made easily and treatments do not always give instantaneous cures. So patient patience is the most comfortable patient behavior looked for by the doctor. However, answering the question from the viewpoint of what is best for the patient, the one who is ill and symptomatic, ah! there probably are different responses. And it is from that viewpoint that I would like my visitors to respond. First, though, let's look at a list of what writers and philosophers had to say about patience and impatience and which I culled from the Thinkexist.com website.

First, patience:

"All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope” ...Alexandre Dumas Père (French Writer, one of the most prolific and most popular authors of the 19th century, 1802-1870)

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.”...Saint Augustine (Ancient Roman Christian Theologian and Bishop of Hippo from 396 to 430. One of the Latin Fathers of the Church.354-430)

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”...Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy (Russian moral Thinker, Novelist and Philosopher, notable for his influence on Russian literature and politics.1828-1910)

“In all evils which admit a remedy, impatience should be avoided, because it wastes that time and attention in complaints which, if properly applied, might remove the cause”...Samuel Johnson (English Poet, Critic and Writer. 1709-1784)

“Perhaps there is only one cardinal sin: impatience. Because of impatience we were driven out of Paradise, because of impatiencewe cannot return.”...(English born American Poet, Dramatist and Editor who achieved early fame in the 1930s as a hero of the left during the Great Depression. 1907-1973)

“Patience is the support of weakness; impatience the ruin of strength”...Charles Caleb Colton (English sportsman and writer, 1780-1832)

“All human errors are impatience, a premature breaking off of methodical procedure, an apparent fencing-in of what is apparently at issue.”...Franz Kafka (German Writer of visionary fiction, 1883-1924)

“Experience has taught me this, that we undo ourselves by impatience. Misfortunes have their life and their limits, their sickness and their health.”...Michel de Montaigne (French Philosopher and Writer. 1533-1592)

“Impatience is the mark of independence, not of bondage”...Marianne Moore (American Poet, 1887-1972)

So now considering the uncertainties and burdens of a patient who is ill and in this age of patient autonomy where the patient has become more responsible for their own decisions and treatment, which behavior, patience or impatience, would be the most productive for a better outcome? Which behavior would you classify yourself as demonstrating? ..Maurice.

2 Comments:

Dr. Bernstein,This is an excellent question. One that I find perplexing to say the least. I think balance plays the key. That is what guides me. I ask give me some guidelines to gauge when and if I should come in sooner. I then use that as a rule of thumb. I understand that most things take time, so I am a patient patient. But I should say too, I have a problem or hang up if you will with feeling like I am a burden or dependent on someone else, so that might make me a bit more patient. I guess that's another issue in itself! Oma Jill

It takes a chronic pain patient an average of 7 years to get a diagnosis and even then, the diagnosis is likely to be inaccurate. Tens of millions are denied treatment even when there is a diagnosis. I don't think anyone is as patient as the average chronic pain patient. I can't think of any other group of people who would benefit more from impatience--angry, righteous impatience to the point of outright rebellion against this system is long overdue.

Apologies to the learned philosophers quoted, but sometimes you have to stand up and demand your rights in the here and now. There is no virtue to suffering in silence.

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